Still, Coach Leslie Frazier says either Ponder or Matt Cassel will start this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers because there's not enough time for Freeman to learn the playbook.

On a team conference call, Freeman said he's glad to have time to ease in to his new surroundings.

"They've got a situation where I can come in and learn the system. Whether they call for me and need me to play, that's one thing. But it's an opportunity to pump the brakes. It's been a pretty crazy past few weeks," he said.

Ponder has had a rough season so far. He's 0-3 as a starter on the season. Matt Cassel started in the team's 34-27 win -- its first this year -- against Pittsburgh in London, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

The winless Bucs released Freeman after general manager Mark Dominik contacted every other team in the NFL in an unsuccessful attempt to trade Freeman before the Vikings picked him up. He was a 4,000-yard passer in 2012 and holds career numbers of 1,144 completions and 80 touchdowns.